Paper-file



(No' Model.)

J. G. LANG'.

PAPER PILE.

No. 353,953. Patented Deo. 7, 1886.

Nirn

STATES JOHN C. LANG, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.A

PAPER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,953, dated December7I 1886.

Application filed September 28, 1883. Serial No. 107,636. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that l, JOHN C. LANG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inPaper-Files, of which the following is a speeilication.

My invention relates to that class of tile- 'holders in which the box orreceptacle to receive the files or papers is provided with a movablefollower or pressure-board designed to confine the papers.

It is the aim of the invention to provide a device of exceedingsimplicity and cheapness, by means of which the papers may be firmlyclamped, which will admit of their being readily released,and which willalso admit of the follower-board being tipped backward when released atany point in the path of its movement, in order to permit convenientexamination of the papers within the box.

To this end it consists, essentially. in combining with afollower-board, which is connected to the base in such manner that itmay slide freely forward and backward and also tip backward at anypoint, a lever pivoted to the rearside of the follower-board and acting`upon the base in rear of the same, the lever thus applied serving as amovable support to lock and maintain the follower in an uprightposition, and also as a means of automatically drawing the followerbackward in the act of releasing the same.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view ot' abox constructed 0n my plan; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section ot'the same as it appears when in use, the follower-board being locked inits upright position. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the box with thefollower-board released and tipped backward. Fig. 4 is a crosssection onthe line x m, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the box or receptacle whichcontains the papers. This receptacle, which may be made of any suitableforni, is preferably composed, as shown in the drawings, of a horizontalbaseboard, a, an upright end board, b, and two triangularside boards, c,connected to thebase and end boards, as shown, the whole constituting atriangular box. Lengthwise in the center of lhefbase-board I form agroove orrecess in which l place a guide-bar, d, sustaining and securingthe saine at its ends in such manner as to leave the slots c along andbeneath its two edges.

B represents the follower or pressure board, made of suitable size totit transversely within the box, its lower end being connected to theguide d by means ofa plate, C, to which the follower is screwed orotherwise firmly united. The plate C has its lower end provided withlugs or ears, adapted to extend downward and engage beneath the edges ofthe guide (l, the form and arrangement ot' the parts heingsnch as toadmit of the board being moved freely forward and backward in an uprightposition, and also of its being tipped or tilted backward to an inclinedposition at any point in the length ot' the guide cl.

If preferred,` the lower end ofthe plate C may be made in the l'orm of aloop or buckle v to completely encircle the guide d; but in ordinarycases it is sul'licient to have the saine engage beneath the edges ofthe guide, as shown. On its rear face near the base-board the plate C isprovided with two backwardlyextending arms, y, to and between whichthere is pivoted a lever, D, of the forni represented in the variousfigures. Upon turning this lever to an upright position, as shown inFigs. l and 2, its lower end bears upon the guide d and serves as asupport forthearins g, thereby maintaining the follower-board B in anupright position, as shown. Il will be observed that when the parts arethus adjusted the follower-board is maintained, tirst, by the engagementof the plate C beneath the guide,

and, secondly, by the lever D resting on top of the guide, inconsequence of which the pressure or resistance ot' the papers againstthe forward face of the follower-board will cause the same to be lockedlirmly and rigidly in place in its upright position. The lever D has itsupper end fashioned, as shown, to form a convenient handle, by which itmay be manipulated. On turning the lever backward into the positionrepresented in Fig. 3 it serves to draw the follower board backward, andat the same time, by lowering the arm g, permits the follower to tip orincline backward, as represented in Fig 3. Vhen thus released, the boardmay be moved forward and backward within the box with entire freedom.

In operating theparts, the papers are intro- ICO duced'between thefollower-board and the front part of the receptacle, the parts standingmeanwhile in the position represented in Fig. 3. The operator, graspingthe lever D, pushes the same forward 'until the baseot the followerboardis'brought in contact with the papers, whereupon the lever is turned toan upright position until it bears against the rear face of thefollower. As the lever is turned upward its lower end bears. upon theguide with a considerable degree of friction, in consequence of whichthe board is not only turned forcibly toits upright position, but at thesame time urged forward against the papers before it. i

It is to be noted as an important feature of my device that thefollower-board is permitted to tilt backward automatically upon beingreleased, and this without the necessity of moving it backward to therear end of the receptacle.

The essential requirements of my construction are that thefollower-board shall be connected to the base-board and thatthesupporting-lever shall be pivoted to the followerboard in such manner astosustain the same in an erect position. Provided the parts are adaptedto operate as above described, they may be modilied in form andarrangement as desired. l

The guide d may be of wood or of metal, and when of wood it may be madesufficiently thin to be slightly elastic, in order to permit the devicesto interlock the more securely therewith. This elasticity is not,however, a necessary feature of the device.

It will be observed that bylmaking use of the plate or standard, whichis free to tip forward and backward, I am permitted to attach the samerigidly to the follower-board, thus avoiding the necessity which existsunder other constructions of hinging' the follower-board 'centrally tothc upper end of its supporting standard. It will also be observed thatas my follower-board tips backward from the lower end, instead oftilting upon a point midway of its height, it is not necessary to drawthe standard backward to secure an inclination of the board, as in thosestructures which have the board pivoted to the upper end of thestandard.

While I have illustrated the follower-board as being triade in anindependentpiece from the supporting plate or standard and screwedthereto, the two may be cast complete in a single piece.

The form of the guide d in cross-section and of the lower end of theplate or standard which engages with the guide may be modified asdesired, provided only the construction is such as to permit thestandard to slide freely forward and backward, and also to tip orincline backward at any point in the length of the guide. The form ofthe hand-lever may also be modified, provided only that it is adapted toact upon the rear side of the standard to sustain the same in anelevated position.

I am aware that a follower-board has been hinged to a locking-standardarranged to slide forward and backward and to tip backwardyconstructions I lay no claim.

"Ihe present-.invention is restricted to those matters and things whichare hereinafter claimed, and as to all matters which maybe described andshown, but which are not claimed, t

the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separateapplication.

I am aware that a standard having a broad base arranged to slide in aslotted guide has been provided with an eccentric-'lever by means ofwhich the standard could be locked rigidly in position on the guide, andto such construction I lay no claim.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is l. In a paper-hie,the box or receptacle having a guide or base, d, in combination with asliding and backwardly-tipping standard having the follower-boardattached and having l rearward arms or projections, and a lever act- IOOfree to'tip backward at any point'thereon,

and a lever connected to the rear side of said standard and acting uponthe base, substantially as described, to maintain the standard in anerect position.

3. In a file-holder, a receptacle having a base-board with alongitudinal guide therein and a rigid upright at one end to sustain thepapers, in combination with a follower-board, a standard rigidly securedto the board and adapted to bolhslide and tilt backward upon the guide,and a movable sustaining-lever pivoted to the rear side of the standardand acting at its lower end upon the guide or base at a point in rear otthe standard, whereby said lever is caused to sustain and lock thestandard, and also to draw the standard backward and permit itsinclination in the act of unlocking the same.

4. The combination of a box or receptacle provided with a guide, d, thestandard having a sliding connection with said guide and adapted toincline backward as described, the arms g on the rear of the standard,the follower-board rigidly attached to said standard, and the leverpivoted between said arms, as described and shown.

5. In a file-holder, a front board, in combination with a base or guideof a followerboard having a sliding and tilting connection therewith,and a brace connected by a hinged joint with the rear side of thefollowerboard and arranged to bear at its lower end upon l strueted asdescribed and shown, to limit the the brace or guide to sustain thefollower in backward tipping motion of the follower- Io an uprightposition. board.

6. In a paperfile aboX or receptacle a follower-board having a slidingand hinged con- JOHN C' LANG' neetion therewith, the plate C, extendingin Witnesses: rear of the follower-board7 and a. supporting- P. T.DODGE,

lever hinged to said plate, the parts being con- HARRY SHIPLEY.

